41 Han or Richard (1/2)
Han watched as An Ning smoothed the comforter on the narrow bed. He noticed that her ankles were bare and that she was wearing a flimsy type of flip flops that exposed her pink toes. He frowned and walked over to a dresser. He opened it, found what he was looking for and told An Ning to sit on the bed.
”Whatever for?” An Ning was perplexed.
”Just sit and let me put this on you,” he said, showing her the pair of socks in his hand. ”The cave is a bit cold. I don't like you freezing in here while you sleep.”
He put the socks on her while she watched him with an unreadable expression on her face.
”Are you hungry?” he asked, patting the long dress down her legs so they won't be exposed then standing up. ”I brought some of Enxuo's delicious chicken soup, pieces of ham you liked so much, bread, and pie and milk. Want some?”
She nodded, a soft smile on her lips.
”Okay. Just stay put and let me heat it all up.”
Han busied himself in the small kitchen while An Ning slipped on the bed keeping warm as she watched him in silence. When the food was done and the table all set up, Han carried An Ning to the table and sat her on a chair. He ladled the soup, sliced the ham, put the bread on a plate then placed the warm milk near her hand. The pie was warming up on the stove, ready to be eaten whenever she wanted.
They sat on the table like an old married couple already familiar with each other's habits. An Ning likes to dunk her bread on the warmed milk. She likes to shred the ham in pieces with her bare hands then picked at it like a timid bird. Han likes to slather the bread with mayonaise before slapping the ham on the bread and biting his teeth onto it. Instead of warm milk, he likes his cold with a little smattering of ice cubes on top.
When the meal was done, Han sliced each of them a piece of the apple pie. He also took out the whipped cream from the fridge and sprayed some on top of the pie which he then placed in front of An Ning.
An Ning sighed contentedly when she swallowed the last bite.
”Good pie,” she said, burping a little.
”Oh huh...”
”So, what do I call you now? Han or Richard?”
The question came so unexpectedly that it took Han several minutes to understand what she was saying. His eyes met hers. His were wary and apprehensive. Hers cool and dispassionate.
”You heard,” he said tentatively, as if frightened of her reaction.
”Wasn't that the purpose?” she asked cooly.
”I'm sorry, Ning Ning. I should have told you but I...”
”How did we two meet?” she interrupted.
”You were walking down the street and I recognized you.”
”You mean like a prostitute?” she asked, startled.
Han gave an unwilling laugh.
”You were going somewhere dressed in an open blazer and skirt and black heavy boots. I was waiting for the light to change. Then I saw you and we talked and we had a drink and after that we just hang around more and more.”
”Then we had sex,” she said, frowning.
”We made love,” he corrected gently. ”We both wanted it to happen. By that time, we both realized that the relationship was serious. I was already thinking of quitting my job and going into business with dad because I didn't want to be apart from you. You were worried about Richard and your family's reaction but I didn't care. It was true what I told your mother. I would have taken you away from Richard even if you had been happy with him. You are mine, An Ning. You made me the happiest man on earth when you told me you and I were going to have a child.”
An Ning stood up and scooped another bowl of soup. She returned to the table and met Han's anxious eyes.
”I'm never getting back my memory again, am I?” she asked.
Han hesitated.
”You broke Yu Yan's spell. I think the pay off is that the memory loss is final. One of her funny tricks.”
”I had the feeling that would be the case,” An Ning nodded. ”What I want to know is what are you expecting to happen now?”
”What do you mean?” Han frowned, confused.
”Between the two of us.”
”The two of us are getting married as planned. I'm not letting you go, An Ning. I don't care about what your father's opinion of me is. He can curse me or ask your mom to put a hex on me and I won't even care. You're my woman and I love you. I don't see our lives ever parting. You and I, together with our child, we're forever.”
”What about Richard?”
”What about him?”
”Aren't you afraid that he'll come back and make problems for us?”
”The question should be, do you hate me for killing him?” Han said quietly. ”I committed a grievous crime, An Ning. I willingly and with malice aforethought caused my brother to die. I hated him for realizing and finally admitting that he loved you. Would you have gone to him and leave me if he'd asked you?”
”What nonesense are you babbling about now?” An Ning frowned.
”He realized he loved you after all and that woman didn't mean anything to him. He was coming back to beg your forgiveness and ask you to give him another chance. You've loved him all your life. Would you have given him that chance? Would you have chosen him over me?” Han's voice was tortured.
”Memory loss, remember?,” An Ning's voice was dry. ”How should I know what my reaction would have been? I don't even remember growing up with him let alone loving him. Give me a break, will you?”
”But you don't remember me as well,”Han said, reaching across and holding her hand. ”Ning Ning, how do you feel about me?”
An Ning looked away from the intensity of his eyes.
”I don't know,” she mumbled.
”Do you like me just a little?” Han persisted.
An Ning's eyes fluttered around the cave like a nervous butterfly.